Mackerel, Pacific sierra Scomberomorus sierra

Jordan, Starks 1895

SCOMBRIDAE FAMILY
Also called carite sierra, serrucho, sierra

Occurs in the eastern central Pacific: from La Jolla in southern California, USA south to the Galapagos Islands and Paita, Peru and has been reported from Antofagasta, Chile.

The Pacific sierra is most easily distinguished by pigment and color pattern. It is silver-blue above and silvery white on the lower sides and belly with a series of yellow-brown spots on the sides. The anterior half of the first spiny part of the dorsal fin is jet black, in contrast to the lighter remainder of the fin.

A schooling species, the Pacific sierra is fast moving, voracious predator feeding on small fishes, especially anchovies and herrings. It occurs near the surface of coastal waters over the continental shelf and is believed to spawn close to the coast over most of its range.

The Pacific sierra is the most abundant game fish along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America. Anglers employ a variety of natural baits and artificial lures with wire leaders to guard against their sharp teeth. (See also mackerel, cero and Spanish)

Mackerel, king Scomberomorus cavalla

Cuvier, 1829

SCOMBRIDAE FAMILY
Also called kingfish, giant mackerel

Found in the western Atlantic Ocean in tropical and subtropical waters, it ranges from Maine in the U.S. to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, and is common around south Florida in the winter months. This migratory species is constantly on the move. Stocks wintering in Florida migrate as far west as Texas and as far north as Virginia during the summer. It also occurs around south Florida in the spring and early summer months.

A coastal, pelagic, schooling species, it is usually found in waters of 10 20 fathoms. Occasionally it may be caught from ocean piers and around inlets. Congregations often occur around wrecks, buoys, coral reefs, and other such areas where food is abundant. Schools vary in size and the largest individuals are usually loners.

They can be distinguished from other Spanish mackerels in the western Atlantic by the sharp dip in the lateral line under the second dorsal fin, by the relatively small number of spines in the first dorsal fin (14 16). The young have spots similar to those in the Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus, but these spots disappear with age. The first dorsal fin is uniformly blue; the anterior third of this fin is never black as it is in the Spanish mackerel and the cero mackerel, S. regalis.

This is an important species, both commercially and as a sport fish. Fishing methods include trolling or drifting either deep or on the surface using strip baits, lures, or small whole baits as well as casting and live bait fishing. Balao, mullet, jacks, herring, pinfish, croakers, shrimp, spoons, feathers, jigs, and plugs have proven effective under various conditions, as have such combinations as feather strip bait and skirt strip bait. Chumming works well to attract and hold these fish

Bonito, Atlantic Sarda sarda

Bloch, 1793

SCOMBRIDAE FAMILY
Also called common bonito, katonkel, belted bonito

Occurs in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Argentina to Nova Scotia and from South Africa to Norway. It is apparently rare in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and is common in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. It is replaced in the Pacific by other Sarda species. The Atlantic bonito is often confused with the skipjack or with other Atlantic Scombroid species. The bonitos have stripes on the back, not the belly. The first dorsal fin has 20 23 spines. The second dorsal fin consists of 13 18 rays followed by 7 10 finlets. The anal fin consists of 14 17 rays followed by 6 8 finlets. The caudal peduncle has a lateral keel on either side. As with all Scombroid fishes, there are also two smaller keels farther back, above and below the main keel. The Sarda species have no teeth on the tongue and no swim bladder. Also, the intestine is straight, rather than folded in the middle. There is a total of 16 23 gill rakers on the first gill arch. The back is steel blue or blue green. The lower flanks and belly are silvery.

This species is pelagic, schooling and migratory and feeds on smaller fishes and squids usually at or near the surface 15 20 miles offshore. A strong, fast swimmer, it is known to skip or leap on the surface when in pursuit of prey. Best fishing methods include trolling at or near the surface, casting, jigging, or live bait fishing. Baits include small pelagic schooling fishes and squid as well as cut fish, strip baits, or any of a variety of artificial lures. The flesh is light colored and of good quality, though held in low esteem by some.

Mackerel, narrowbarred Scomberomorus commerson

Lacepede, 1800

SCOMBRIDAE FAMILY
Also called tanguigue, giant mackerel, kingfish, serra, barracuta

Found in tropical and warm temperate waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Specimens have been found in the Red Sea and have migrated through the Suez Canal into the eastern Mediterranean.

The body of the narrowbarred mackerel is more compressed than that of the similar looking wahoo, Acanthocybium solanderi and the lateral line dips below the second dorsal fin, rather than near the middle of the first dorsal fin. There are 3 6 gill rakers on the first arch, whereas the wahoo has none. The flanks display numerous irregular, vertical, wavy bars. As the fish grows the number of stripes increase.

This pelagic and migratory species is a schooling fish but large specimens often travel alone. Its diet consists of small, pelagic schooling fishes, such as sardines and anchovies. It also feeds on flying fish which it is adept at catching even in mid flight.

The narrowbarred mackerel is a highly rated game fish that sounds often, runs hard and fast, and occasionally leaps. Fishing methods include surface or deep trolling with squid, mullet, sauries, flying fish, garfish and strip baits as well as with drone heads and other artificial lures. Live bait fishing near reefs with these and other baits is also productive. The best fishing is at dawn or dusk and at high or low slack tide.It is an important commercial species in the areas where it occurs. The flesh is of excellent quality as table fare as well as for use as whole bait, strip bait or chum

Tuna, yellowfin Thunnus albacares

Bonnaterre, 1788

SCOMBRIDAE FAMILY
Also called Allison tuna

Occurs worldwide in deep, warm temperate oceanic waters. It is both pelagic and seasonally migratory, but has been known to come fairly close to shore.

Most large yellowfins have overextended second dorsal and anal fins that may reach more than halfway back to the tail base in some large specimens. In smaller specimens under about 60 lb (27 kg) and in some very large specimens as well, this may not be an accurate distinguishing factor since the fins do not appear to be as long in all specimens. The pectoral fins in adults reach to the origin of the second dorsal fin, but never beyond the second dorsal fin to the finlets as in the albacore. The bigeye tuna (T. obesus) and the blackfin tuna (T. atlanticus) may have pectoral fins similar in length to those of the yellowfin. The yellowfin can be distinguished from the blackfin by the black margins on its finlets. Blackfin tuna, like albacore, have white margins on the finlets. It can be distinguished from the bigeye tuna by the lack of striations on the ventral surface of the liver.

This is probably the most colorful of all the tunas. The back is blue black, fading to silver on the lower flanks and belly. A golden yellow or iridescent blue stripe runs from the eye to the tail, though this is not always prominent. All the fins and finlets are golden yellow though in some very large specimens the elongated dorsal and anal fins may be silver edged with yellow. The finlets have black edges. The belly frequently shows as many as 20 vertical rows of whitish spots.

The diet depends largely on local abundance, and includes flying fish, other small fish, squid and crustaceans. Fishing methods include trolling with small fish, squid, or other trolled baits including strip baits and artificial lures as well as chumming with live bait fishing.

It is highly esteemed both as a sport fish and as table fare. Its flesh is very light compared to that of other tunas, with the exception of the albacore, which has white meat

Tuna, southern bluefin Thunnus maccoyii

Castelnau, 1872

SCOMBRIDAE FAMILY
Also called Japanese Central Pacific bluefin tuna

A species of the southern ocean found worldwide from 30?S to about 50?S latitude occurring in oceanic to coastal waters below thermoclines. Southern bluefin are commonly found off the southern and eastern coasts of Australia and New Zealand.

This pelagic and seasonally migratory species has been studied quite extensively in Australian waters due to its commercial importance. They spawn in the eastern Indian Ocean with one and two year old fish appearing off Western Australia in summer. Three and four year olds appear off Southern Australia in summer and New South Wales in winter. The migratory route from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific splits into two routes off southern Tasmania. Fish move either to northern New Zealand via South Island or up the Australian coast.

They closely resemble the Atlantic bluefin (Thunnus thynnus), and were once thought to be the same species. The difference is the number of gill rakers. The southern bluefin has a total of 31 40 on the first arch while the Atlantic bluefin has a total of 34 43. Both have in common striations on the ventral surface of the liver, short pectoral fins that do not reach to the interspace between the first and second dorsal fins, and moderate second dorsal and anal fins that are never elongated like those of the yellowfin tuna (T. albacares). The finlets are dusky yellow edged with black. It is the only species of Thunnus in which the caudal keels are bright yellow except in fish larger than 150 lb (68 kg) where the caudal keels tend to be darker.

They travel in schools of similar sized fish. Their diet consists of a variety of crustaceans, cephalopods, and fish including anchovies and pilchards.

The most popular method of catch this powerful, hard fighting fish is trolling. It can also be taken from boats or from the shore using live scombroid fishes (mackerels and little tunas) for bait. It is rarely taken on dead baits. Hooked fish are prone to fast surface runs and deep sounding.

They are excellent both as a sport fish and as table fare